WKYT Investigates: Fayette Co. school employees making $100K

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - There are 40,000 students that fill the seats in Fayette County classrooms. There are about 5800 employees and more than 50 schools.

Recently, Superintendent Dr. Tom Shelton said the district is dealing with a $20 million shortfall. "We never anticipated that when we started seeing reductions in funding in 2007, 2008 that it would have lasted this long. Normally we don't see this long of a trend in reduced spending," Shelton said this afternoon.

Just last week Dr. Shelton said he will take a 5% pay cut from his $254,000 salary. He is the highest paid person in the system.But our investigation uncovered he's not the only person in Fayette County schools making a six figure salary.1.5% of the entire workforce are employees making $100,000 or more. There are 87 people at Fayette County Public Schools earning that level of pay.

Dr. Shelton said, "When you look at those in the six figures, you have to know they are working year round as opposed to teachers who are working 191 days." He said administrators pay is based on the teacher salary schedule. But more money is added because administrators are paid for 250 days. "These are the most experienced staff in the district"

Shelton says it's not the six figure salaries weighing down the district, it's all of the salaries. The average teacher in Fayette County is making between $55,000 and $60,000 a year. They start with a bachelor's degree at around $42,000.

"We have made a conscience effort to increase the salaries of all of our staff. Our board has been very supportive and had a direct intent to have one of the highest salary scales of all school districts in the state, and they've achieved that," Shelton said.

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